Vitality has revealed a 45 per cent increase in the proportion of members claiming between 2019 and 2023.
According to its 2024 Health Claims Report, 42 per cent of people want health insurance that supports them to be healthier and live longer, and 60 per cent want a policy that makes it quick and easy to access care.
Vitality’s analysis shows that insurance coverage has shifted away from elective treatments and serious health events and towards primary everyday care services such as virtual GPs, talking therapies, and physiotherapy.
The report shows that claims for these common care services have doubled since 2019, accounting for 64 per cent of all Vitality health insurance claims.
Vitality’s analysis shows a sixfold rise in virtual GP appointments, with 95 per cent completed within 48 hours. Highly engaged Vitality Platinum members had 28 per cent reduced healthcare expenses, and highly active members lived 4.8 years longer.
Furthermore, 64 per cent of health claims were submitted online, and members got £82 million in rewards and partner benefits.
Talking therapies have climbed by 179 per cent since 2019, while physiotherapy claims increased by 35 per cent between 2019 and 2023, while severe in-patient musculoskeletal claims decreased by 31 per cent during the same period.
VitalityHealth managing director Keith Klintworth says: “The healthcare landscape has transformed over the past five years. Gone are the days when it was enough for health insurance to merely cover the costs of hospital treatment. Today, customers look for a far broader range of services, from support for leading a healthy lifestyle to seamless pathways into care when they need it.
“Our members are today claiming for everyday healthcare services more than any other form of treatment, presenting an opportunity to deliver more immediate value, and intervene earlier to improve their long-term health.”
